Advertisement

Pedestrian, bicyclist die in separate crashes on U.S.19 in Spring Hill

 
Published Dec. 7, 2013

SPRING HILL — A pedestrian and a bicyclist were fatally injured within hours of each other and a half-mile apart in unrelated crashes Thursday night and Friday morning on U.S. 19.

John E. Ludwig, 27, of New Port Richey was crossing the highway at the intersection with Applegate Drive just before 9:30 Thursday night when he was struck by a Hyundai Sonata, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The driver of the car, 62-year-old Kevin M. McQuain of Tarpon Springs, said he didn't see Ludwig and hit him in an outside lane, troopers reported. Ludwig died at the scene. McQuain was not injured.

In the second incident, Harold Leonard Phillips, 70, was riding his bicycle north on U.S, 19 in the crosswalk at Osowaw Boulevard about 7:50 a.m. Friday.

He failed to yield to oncoming traffic and was hit by a Dodge Caravan traveling east on Osowaw, troopers said. Phillips of Rensselaer Falls, N.Y., was taken to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, where he died.

The driver of the van, 45-year-old Michael Lovelock of Spring Hill, was not injured.

Both incidents remained under investigation Friday, troopers said. No charges or citations had been issued.